Friday, May 6, 2011

Conquering Corregidor Island 5: Spanish Lighthouse (Topside)

* the Spanish Lighthouse in Corregidor; the signboards point to different key cities in the world together with their corresponding distances from the Island

* the cell site tower?* Trailer Pransis posing together with one of the towers in the Spanish Lighthouse area* the patio

* the souvenir shops* the souvenir items

The “head” of the tadpole-shaped island of Corregidor comprise theTopside area. Here, majority of the batteries were installed as well as other vital installations and quarters of the soldiers stationed in the island at the time of the War.

Found atop a hill in Topside, the Spanish Lighthouse gives one a commanding view of the seas surrounding the island and the neighboring Bataan Peninsula. The lighthouse was built by the Spaniards occupying the place in 1853. Later improvements were done in 1897 and much later by the American forces. It must have been lovely to be stationed at the top for the winds are fierce and the views are simply breath-taking.

* the room of the Lighthouse Keeper

* an apparent entrance to a tunnel (or bunker) found at the back of the Lighthouse

* view from the top of the Lighthouse; too bad I was not able to take a photo of myself

* from the top of the Lighthouse; the Mile-Long Barracks is partially visible and as well as the Bataan Peninsula in the background

* the quarters for the soldiers who brought their families in the island

Owing to its prominent position, the lighthouse was one of the structures completely destroyed by the Japanese in their attempt to capture the island. What is now enjoyed by the tourists is already a replica of the original one; the only consoling fact there is that the replica was reconstructed on the original site of the original lighthouse.

Today the site is composed of three towers, one for an agency concerned with sea travel, the other a cell site (if I am not mistaken), and the other is of course the Lighthouse. At the center is a patio surrounded by Spanish-type bungalows which house souvenir shops for the tourists.

Not far from the place one can find the quarters for the soldiers who had their families and a number of what looked like tunnels. There are indeed many things to discover in the island.